Lamp-socket.



C. A.. VETT-ER. A

vLAMP SOCKET. A'PPLIoATmN Pimm s112124, 1912.

Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

lpy lh SATS CLARENCE A. VETTER, F PITTSBURGH a 'n irren,

, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE LAMP-SOCKET.

Application filed September T 0 aZZL/ohom it may con-corn Be it knownthat i, CLARENCE A. Vn'rriin,

' a citizen of the Unit-ed States, residing at- Pittsburgh, in thecounty ofifillegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Lamp- Sockets, of which the following isa specification.

My invention refers to the class of socli:` ets of incandescentlamps. A,

It 'has for its object to provide a keyless socketadapted to operate formaking and breaking the current by rotation of the lamp and its basewithin a receiving portion of a socket, which portion is rotatablysecured 'to a fixed portion of a socket, in such a manner as to preventseparation.

The device is so constructed as to vprovide for opening and closingthecireuit to the lamp filaments and to prevent removal ofthe lamp afterbeing once inserted, without destruction. This feature is important andone of' the valuable characteristics of the device, so as to preventloss of lamps.

rlhe invention, as constructed, and for the purpose of accomplishingsuch objects, con- 'sists generally of a base portion of insulatingmaterial liavingterminal connections, a relatively rotatable lampholding portion, and an outer protecting shield construct-ion, andadapted' to operate in the manner more fully hereinafter described.

Referring now to the drawings illustrating one preferred form ofthe'inve'nt-ion Figure l is a view in side elevation ot a completesocket and lamp. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view throughthe base, indicated by the line II. Il. ot Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a lan viewof the upper relatively stationary oase, indicated by the horizontalsection line III. 1H. of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective detail view ofthe rotatable base, detached. Fig. 5'is a plan view 0i- 4the ro'-vtatable base, illustrating a modied construction. Fig. 6 is a sectionaldetail view showing means for temporarily holding the rotatable base.

In the drawings, the base is generally designated by the letter A and isadapted to receive and support an ordinary standard electric lamp bulbB, which is provided wit-h the usual threaded socketvportion b. The baseA is surrounded by a` two-part cap or shield a, af, overlapping andinteriitting the' Specication of Letters latent.

`atented Nov. i8, i913.

ai, 1912. semi no. 722,150.

one with the other in the customary way, the

sion c2 extending over and surrounding the base portion b of the lamp B.Such parts of the construct-ion are of ordinary and well-known form, andthe cap a is provided with a terminal neck, through which are introducedthe current supply wires c, (Z. lVithin the upper-portion of the shellis iixedly secured the insulatingrbase 2 made of porcelain, liber, orother suitable material, to which is rotatably connected the rotatablebase 3 by a central stem or pin 4. Said pin may be in the form of ascrew, as shown, the lower end of which is provided with a screwhead 5,the" upper end having a vided at each end for insurinor free rotation.As thus connected it will he Seen that, when the parts are assembled.and a lamp is inserted, access to the connecting stem 4 is absolutelyprevented.

The washer 8, at the upper end of stein-4, is extended downwardly to oneside of the base 2 wit-hin a suitable receiving recess therein andturned downwardly, and it is provided with a terminal binding post con-Iterminals d is connected therewith and in The central portion of thelamp base b, makes contact against the lower end of stein 4, and itswasher 7, thereby' establishesfone of the circuit connections with thefilaments. Tliebase 2 is provided with a pair of spring controlledcontact terminals l0 and 10 mounted in suitable bushings 11 and' 11 re'-s'1iectively, having springs 12 and 12 .respect-ively, seated attheirinner ends against retaining screws or abutments 13 'and 13 reisutilized for conducting the current, for

cured by screw 13 against bushing 11, and extends outwardly, downwardlyand. laterally by an extension 15, having a binding screw 16 forattachment of the other conductor c, The4 opposite spring-actuatedterminal 10' is merely for the purpose of 'gagementof the hase 2'againstbase 3.

For the purpose ofl providing for circuit establishing and interlockingengagementbe- -tweei'i the' bases, the rotatable base 3 is prosh'ell afhaving the reduced annular eXtennection, as a screw 9, by which one oftli'e spectively. But one of such terminals, 10,-

which purpose awasher extension 14 is s'enut 6, suitable washers 7 and 8being proelectrical communication with the stein Li.

vcen'tralizin'g or balancing the bearing en- 'hase of the threadedreceiving shell '19, into `ivhich the base o of the lamp B is screwed,

as is Fig. 2.

Arranged between the conducting segment-s 17 are cor espondingnon-conducting segments Q0, 20, ot insulating material, the ends o whichabut against the ends of the conducting members 1T. Each of suchineinbers is provided with a spirally ascending bearing face` as clearlyshown in Fig. 4, and one end of the insulating members 20 is ottset, asat 21, providing a 'retaining shoulder for the spring-controlled pins 10and 1Q. Shoulder 21'is formed integrally with the insulating portion ofthe segment,` so that in the operation of the device, when pin 10 or 10rides over from the conducting segment 17 and on to the insulatingmember 20, it Will bear by its side and end port-ion against insulationonly, thereby absolutely7 preventing any circuit.` The other end ot eachsegment 2O merely abuts against the end of conducting segment 17, itsbearing face being flush therewith, so that the pin will ride smoothlyover from one to the other and come into circuit establishing bearingwith segment 17.

From the foregoing description it Will he yclearly seen t-hat the shell19 being iixedly secured to the rotatable base 3, the -lainp base may betightly screwed into the threaded portion of the shell 19 clockwise, thepins 10 and 10 holding the base 3 and shell 19 tixedlyagainst rotationin that direction. The lamp having been thus tightly screwed into thebase, with sufficient binding force, thelamp and base may then berotated back- Wardly with base 3 quite freely to any eX- tent` thespiral face of the insulating and conducting segments l? and 20respectively riding underneath the pins 10 and 10 which willsuccessively tall behind the shoulders 21, locking the base 3 againstrotation tclockwisef While the rotation of the lamp and base in theopposite or backward direotion Will effect the making and breaking ofthe J.circuit alternately` as desired.

The rextension of the shell a downwardly around'the base of the lamp andshell 19 positively prevents the holding' of the shell by any means, soas to prevent tampering with or unscrewing of the lamp therefrom. If,however-git is desired to provide the device With means for temporarilyholding' the rotatable base so that the lamp may be unscrewed-froin theshell 19, as in the case of private or domestic use of lamps, wheredthere is no danger of theft, and Where it is 'aiso desirable to removethe lamp bulb With- 'out breaking the globe, I provide the lockingdeviee22 (Fig. 6) consisting'of a pin or stud carriedby a spring 23 on theshell o extending inwardly therethrough and adapted to register With acompanion socket 2st of the rotatable base 3. rl`he stud is normallyheld out of engagement with the socket 24 by retraction ot the spring,rand when pressed inwardly and the base 3 is rotated in the usual way, itwill spring into engagement and may he thus held, locking thc rotatablebase against reversal. and allowing the lamp to he unscrcwcd in theusual manner. E breaking of the circuit may be accomplished in themanner already described.

It it is desired to merely prevent unsere-wingof the lamp butyvithoutturning,r the current on or off, the segment construction otl the spiralbearing ring shown in Figi'. t may be substituted by a continuous ringQ5 ot` conducting' material, in contact communication with shell 19 andmerely having one or more shoulders 21', preferably two for equalizationof bearing for each pin, as in Fig. 5. in such case the current. will hemaintained at any position, but the shoulders Qiu'ill interlock Withthepins l0 and 10 allowing for screwing in oi' the lump in the mannerdescribed, but preventing unseren*- iug clue to thc tree rotation of theringl with relation to the locking pins in the manner already described.In sucl` ease the current to tlte lamp may be controlled( hy other wellknown means, as by a wall lzey or switch.

The advantages of the invention will he readily understood andappreciatedv troni the foregoing description. rthe device is especiallyadaptable to use with` Igroup arrangements of lamps, in czmdeluhra orother installations. One or any desired number ot the lamps may hereadily thrown out of circuit by merely partly turning one or more ofthe lamps While maintaining the full circuit supply to all or the bases.Also, each lamp is maintained in ycontinuous normal circuit 'conduct ingcontact W'ith the iconducting;r elements of the base, so that allclanger of short cireuiting` burningr ofinsulation` etc., is avoided.

That I claim is:

1. The combination 'ot a lamp-carrying part, a terminal Wire-carryingpart, a swivel connection, spring-actuated pins on one ot' raid parts,and shoulders on the other part, said pins and shoulders cooperating tojam or lock the lamp against removal.

. Q. lamp socket consisting of a base provided With a central swivelingstem and a laterally arranged spring-actuated locking abutment eachforming conducting members, terminal wire connections in circuittherewith, a relatively rotatable lamp supporting base swivelcd on saidstem having a spiraily threaded lamp receiving shell on its outerportion and a shouldered locking ring on its inner portion co-actingwith said spring- Otlieruise the making and' po 'tion and a locking ring'on its inner por-y tion composed'of segmental shouldered 1nsulatincsections and alternatin conductinf1r sections -fcuming therewithspirally inclinedbearing faces, and means connecting the lamp receivingshell with the conducting sections, substantially as set forth.

4. A lamp socket consisting of a base pro-5 vided with a centralswivelmg stem and a' laterally arranged springactuated locking abutmenteach forming conducting members, terminal wire connections in circuittherewith, a relatively rotatable lamp supporting base swiveled on saidstem having atspira-lly threaded lamp receivingshell on its outerportion and a shoulderedv locking ring on its inner portion co-actingwith said spring-actu ated locking abutment for arresting the lamp,receiving shell against rotation upon screwing a lamp thereinto .and forpermitting freel rotation of the tightly inserted lamp and shell in theopposite direction, and means connecting the lamp receivingshell with4the locking ring, substantially as set forth. l

5. In a lamp socket, the combination of a base portion having bindinpost connections forcurrent supply wires, a central swivel pin incircuit with one of said connections, 'a spring actuated lstud abutmentl and mountin therefor in circuit` with the,

other of sai connections, 'a relatively rotatable base swiveled on saidpin, the pin extending therethrough and providing a central lampcontact, and a shouldered conducting ring and a lamp socket secured onSonates of this patent. may be obtained the inner side of said rotatablebase and connected to each other adapted to engage sald abutment andoffer resistance to effect tight insertion of a lamp in the direction ofscrewfing into the socket and lto permit free reversal of the lampandsocket in reverse direction, substantially as set forth.

6. In a lamp socket, the combination of a' base portion having bindingpost connections for current supply wires, a central swivel pin incircuit with one of said connections at its inner end and forming a lampcontact by its outer end, a Spring-actuated abutment and mountingtherefor in circuit with the other of said connections, a relativelyrotatable base swiveled on said pin, a 'spiral ,ring composed' ofconducting and nonfconducting segments embodying insulating abutments,and a lamp socket secured on said rotatable base and connected with theconducting segments of said ring, substantially as set forth.

7. In a' lamp socket, the combination of a base portion having bindingpost connections for currentsupply Wires, a eentrahswivel pin in circuitwlth one of said connections at its inner end and forming a lamp contactby its outer end, a spring-actuated abutment and mounting therefor incircuit with the other of said connections, a relatively rotatable baseswiveled on said pin, a spiral ring composed of conducting and nonoonducting segments lembodying insulatingabutments, a lamp socket securedon said .rotatable base and connected with the con- 'ducting segments ofsaid rlng, and a proltecting .shell surrounding sald bases and'extendingover the lamp socket and inclosing the circuitl controlling means,substantially as set forth. v

In testimony whereof I hereunto atliX my signature the presence of twowitnesses.

`CLARENCE A, VEITER.

Witnesses: C. M. CLARKE, FREDK. STAUB.

for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioneil of Patents, A.

Washington, D. G.

